The renowned publisher has secured a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently working on the forthcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.
Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman steps into the leadership position at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to the game's lackluster early showing last autumn.
On Wednesday, 2K president David Ismailer notified team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a more defined game identity.
Ismailer stated that the team is now overhauling Project Ethos with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet community desires.
A Pattern of Strategic Recruitment
This announcement follows a comparable action taken by 2K Games in August, when they hired Rod Fergusson from Blizzard to contribute to the beloved franchise development group.
Here is the full message from Ismailer's announcement:
Team—
I understand you all just completed your town hall - I hope you’re as excited as I am with the positive developments. Previously I sent you all a note, I mentioned the following: “I am confident in this team. You all are some of the most motivated and creative designers we have had the pleasure to partner with - and we’re excited for that collaboration to endure.”
With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s Project ETHOS demo was informative. It validated the potential of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It revealed the need for a more distinct vision.
It has been motivating to see how far you’ve advanced. You embraced the criticism to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a refreshed goal - one that’s positioned to fulfill its promise to our fans.
The belief in this project grows every day. To further the incredible advancement you’ve made, I’m excited to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After a period of conversations, he starts with us on next week.
Ben’s leadership and experience in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the last 15 years producing and leading some of the most well-known titles in gaming, for example Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more recently, the battle royale hit.
Let’s together in receiving him soon. We are all looking forward to continue observing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the months to ahead.
David
Experience of the New Head
The appointee presently serves in the position of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. Brinkman previously worked at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, earlier in his career, had stints at 2K and Electronic Arts.
Game Details and Concept
Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 alongside a public demo. Initially, the developers presented the title as a "no-cost, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an thrilling step forward on the category."
"Create your ideal gameplay session—or face defeat—in this engaging over-the-shoulder adventure! Build your hero in real-time to match your preferred approach," the description states. "Take on the competition with fresh skills, challenges, and tests that evolve every session. Will you withdraw carefully with your collected items? Or take a risk, put it on the line, and hope your squad can earn top ranking? The choice is yours."
The game does not have an official debut schedule or supported systems, but players can expect more updates as production continues.
